Literature
The novel is set in fictional London somewhere around the second half of the 20th century when literature is taken very seriously, not only for its artistic value, but also in every other aspect of life. A technology is created that allows the characters from the literary works to merge with reality and interact with real people. There are allusions to contemporary discussion in regard to some popular works i.e. the ending of Jane Eyre or authenticity of Shakespeare’s works. Written in a witty way, the importance of literature in the novel is much more significant and shows the way in which it affects and shapes human lives.
Technology
The novel is structured within a world where technological advancements play a major part in the plot. Such is the ability to travel into the literary worlds as well as change and re-shape them. Technology is portrayed as a neutral force that can go both ways, depending on the hands that command it.
War
The novel makes a direct allusion to the Crimean war with the main character Thursday having directly participated in it, and it is a part of her character building. Her war-story revolves around her fallen brother Anton and the love of her life Landen who revealed Anton’s mistake that tarnished his reputation. This creates a direct conflict in the love story of Landen and Thursday.
Time
The novel explores the ambiguity of time and possibility of time travel. Time is shown in the novel as not being a straight line, but a combination of many interchangeable paths. Thursday’s father appears as a time traveler that directly interferes with the flow of time and observes the consequences. Probably the most striking plot twist at the end of the novel is that Shakespeare’s works are a direct product of time, without an actual author.
